STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM OIT-STEP-2017-01
(Applicant Name)
attachment b –
Technical Proposal Template
for
FY 2017
State Trade Expansion Program
OIT-STEP-2017-01
INSTRUCTIONS:
All applicants must submit a Technical Proposal and must use this required standard template format. The template must be in the same order as the requirements of Section 4.2.2 and the evaluation criteria in Section 5.2 of the Program Announcement. The Technical Proposal must be in MS Word no more than ten (10) double-spaced pages in length, not including this title page, using 8 ½ x 11 inch paper with a one inch margin and pagination on all pages. A minimum 10 point font is required. Applicants do NOT need to address every allowable statutory export activity (identified in Section 1.4). Applicants are strongly encouraged to prepare focused proposals that can realistically be achieved within the 12 month award period.
To use this template:
1. Read directions in each section,
2. Delete all content (including notes in yellow highlight) in each section,
3. Type or copy your content directly into empty block,
4. Update page numbers as needed in Table of Contents (on this title page).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 1
ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCY 1
PROJECT DESIGN & DIRECT BENEFIT 3
COLLABORATION & LEVERAGING OF RESOURCES 8
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT & PAST PERFORMANCE 9
DATA COLLECTION & MEASUREMENT OF OUTCOMES 10
INTRODUCTION
Description: Start the Technical Proposal with an ‘Introduction’ section that summarizes in no more than one (1) paragraph, your organization’s requested Federal and Non-Federal award amount, targeted number of eligible small business concerns, brief description of proposed statutory activities that will be achieved with STEP funds in FY 2017, the total expected export sales and anticipated return on investment that is realistic and achievable.ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCY
Element 1 – ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCY (Section 5.2.1 – 20 Points)Description: In an estimated 1-2 pages, labeled with the main heading ‘Organizational Competency’, this section includes: Applicant’s program management, current and/or previous STEP exporting experience if applicable (using sample ‘Key Performance Indicators’ chart provided in template), and proven competency for building a pipeline of ESBCs. This section should demonstrate how credible and impactful the Applicant’s organization can recruit, prepare and assist ESBCs (“building the pipeline’) and experience with producing new small business exporters, expanding ESBC markets, increasing ESBCs export sales; as well as, promoting export services to a broad range of small business communities.
Sub-headings:
a. Program Management – This section explains the Applicant’s plan for ensuring the proper direction, management and timely completion of the proposed project, as follows:
§ How all facilities and locations will be used to manage and conduct proposed export activities;
§ Level of management oversight over contracts, if any are used to support proposed STEP project ; and,
§ Level of experience and involvement of key personnel in the STEP project (fill in table below).
Name(s) of Key Personnel/Title / Experience and involvement in STEP Project / Percentage of Time Devoted to
STEP
EX: Dana Monroe, STEP Project Director / 20 years of exporting experience, who will be responsible for grant administration. / 50%
b. Exporting Experience (current/previous) - This section will describe how your organization has achieved success in the past and/or is currently building the capacity of current and future small business exporters. For Applicant’s who had previous STEP awards, provide a brief written synopsis of updated FY 2015 results and a copy of Your ‘Key Performance Indicators’ table (as shown below) that you will submit separately (Attachment 10).
c. Building the Pipeline - This section should demonstrate how credible and impactful the Applicant can produce new small business exporters, expand ESBC markets, increase export sales; as well as, promote exporting services to a broad range of small business communities. Include a description of the Applicant’s experience (with specific examples and outcomes):
i. Building a pipeline and developing small businesses into new exporters (e.g., recruiting, preparing, and assisting NTEs participate in export activities);
ii. Building a pipeline of existing small business exporters and expanding their markets (e.g., recruiting, preparing, and assisting MEs participate in export activities); and,
iii. Promoting export development to a broad range of small businesses, to include the following small business communities:
§ Owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals;
§ Owned and controlled by women;
§ Owned and controlled by veterans and/or service-connected disabled veterans; and/or,
§ Rural small businesses.
PROJECT DESIGN & DIRECT BENEFIT
Element 2 - PROJECT DESIGN & DIRECT BENEFIT (Section 5.2.2 -25 Points)Description: In an estimated 1-4 pages, labeled with the main heading ‘Project Design and Direct Benefit’, this section consist of two sections: Part I - Milestone Goals & Supporting Export Activities (w/required Matrices); and Part II - Financial Assistance Plan. This section should outline the Applicant’s specific plan of action for directly benefiting ESBCs (at least 85%) through the execution of allowable export activities (identified in Section 1.4) that is expected to result in tangible and measurable outcomes (e.g., producing new small business exporters, expanding ESBC markets, and increasing ESBCs export sales).
§ Part 1 - Milestone Goals & Supporting Export Activities must provide a brief narrative description of each proposed milestone goal and supporting activity (outlined in the Attachment B) followed by an accompanying matrix (noted below). Note: The export activity data placed in this Technical Proposal (Attachment B) matrices must reflect the totals for the full year period of performance, whereas, the export activity data placed in the Attachment A (in excel format) must be broken out by Federal fiscal quarters.
$ AMOUNT OF FEDERAL AWARD DIRECTLY BENEFITTING ESBCs / PERCENT OF FEDERAL AWARD DIRECTLY BENEFITTING ESBCs
$ / %
First, complete this matrix just once to reflect the total $ amount and percentage of your proposed Federal request that directly benefits ESBCs.
Second, the required format is a brief narrative description of each proposed export activity followed by an accompanying matrix. The milestone goals and supporting export activities outlined in this technical proposal must be numbered consistent with your Attachment A.
For each proposed Milestone Goal, include a separate matrix of supporting export activities. Use the below format to comply with this requirement. Delete the instruction example data in the matrices below.)
EX: MILESTONE GOAL 1: Support 24 ESBC’s in Trade Shows - Add goal and narrative description (followed by required matrix below).
MILESTONE GOAL DESCRIPTION / ACT TYPE
(1-8) / ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION SUPPORTING MILESTONE GOAL / # NTE FIRMS / NTE EXPORT SALES / # ME FIRMS / ME EXPORT SALES / FEDERAL AWARD EXPENSE / FED AWARD ROI
Goal 1: Support 24 ESBCS to participate in Trade Shows
(description) / 6 / (Enter Supporting Activity 1)
Example: Support 5 NTE and 10 ME firms at Hanover Messe / 5 / $135,000 / 10 / $600,000 / $45,250 / 15.4
6 / (Enter Supporting Activity 2)
Example: Support 3 NTE and 6 ME firms at Arab Health / 3 / $300,000 / 6 / $200,000 / $25,000 / 14.2
(Insert more rows for more activities, as needed)
24 / Total / Total / Total / Total / Total
Part II – Financial Assistance Plan - must outline the eight parameters (detailed below) for ESBCs seeking assistance with award funds (using sub-headings).
a. Applicant process for small businesses seeking STEP assistance;
b. Criteria and selection process to become a STEP Client;
c. Organization and title of the selection panel or committee members (SBA employees cannot be members);
d. Maximum dollar amount of financial assistance available to a STEP Client during the STEP award performance period;
e. Percent of export activity costs supported with STEP funds and percent covered by both NTE and ME ESBCs. All STEP clients must cover a portion of the costs of participation in STEP supported export activities. Applicants may not build in discretion to use STEP funds for other purposes not approved by SBA;
f. Maximum number of financial assistance awards available to a STEP Client during the award performance period;
g. Method of financial assistance payments to Clients (e.g., prepaid, reimbursement, etc.); and,
h. Internal controls that will ensure process and financial management compliance.
Table. Financial Assistance Plan (Optional)
Applicant Process / Brief Description
Criteria and Selection Process / Brief Description
Organization and Title of Selection Panel or Committee Members
Maximum Dollar Amt. of Financial Assistance
Percent % of Export Activity Costs and Percent % covered by both NTE and ME ESBCs
Maximum # of Financial Assistance Awards / $
Method of Financial Assistance Payments
Internal Controls / Brief Description
COLLABORATION & LEVERAGING OF RESOURCES
Element 3 - COLLABORATION & LEVERAGING OF RESOURCES (Section 5.2.3 - 10 Points)Description: In an estimated 1 page, labeled with the main heading ‘Collaboration and Leveraging of Resources’, this section should address specifically how Applicant’s lead organization will collaborate and leverage resources to accomplish the proposed milestone goals and supporting export activities with each prospective partner
(fill in table below):
§ SBA’s District Offices, U.S. Export Assistance Centers, Resource partners, and other offices;
§ Other federal, state, local and tribal agencies;
§ Universities and other institutions of higher education; and
§ Private organizations such as, chamber of commerce, trade/industry groups and associations
Table: Prospective Partners
Name of Partner Organization / Role (Briefly explain partner’s specific role in STEP project)
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT & PAST PERFORMANCE
Element 4 – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT & PAST PERFORMANCE(Section 5.2.4 - 20 Points)
Description: In an estimated 1 page, labeled with the main heading ‘Financial Management and Past Performance’, this section must address
§ Financial management structure and systems;
§ Internal process controls related to the financial assistance plan; and
§ Experience of staff member responsible for financial recordkeeping, reporting, and expenditure of funds.
DATA COLLECTION & MEASUREMENT OF OUTCOMES
5 - DATA COLLECTION & MEASUREMENT OF OUTCOMES (Section 5.2.5 - 25 points)Description: In an estimated 1-2 pages, labeled with the main heading ‘Data Collection and Measurement of Outcomes’, this section must address the required data collection elements (noted below); and, the quality of Applicant’s ability to quantitatively measure progress towards achieving proposed outcomes.
1. STEP Client’s level of export experience (“new-to-export” or “market expansion”) on the DCI and on the STEP Client application;
2. Actual export sales amount resulting from a completed activity;
3. Projected export sales amount resulting from a completed activity within the following 12 to 18 months;
4. A statement on the DCI by the Client that conveys their certification of the reported data. For example, “I hereby certify that all information provided in this document, as well as any accompanying documents, are true and complete;”
5. Number of times results data will be collected during the award year on the DCI and in the Technical Proposal; and,
6. Applicant's medium used to collect and record DCI data (e.g., web-based, paper form, email, phone call, etc.) on the DCI and in the Technical Proposal.
Please Note:
§ All DCI forms must have a space to be signed and dated by ESBC.
§ All applicable STEP related materials (including, STEP client application and Data Collection Instrument) must include the SBA logo and acknowledgement of support statement): “Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.”
§ STEP awardees are encouraged to discuss benefits STEP brings to Your state’s economy through jobs created and/or jobs retained stemming from ESBCs participation in export activities. To the extent possible, please explain whether the number of jobs created/retained can be measured; and if so, include a question on your STEP Client Application to collect this data.
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